Qatar’s LNG expansion projects on track: Al-Kaabi

Qatar’s ambitious LNG expansion projects are progressing as planned, aiming to increase production capacity to 142mn tonnes/year, announced Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, CEO of QatarEnergy, on May 15 during a panel discussion at the Qatar Economic Forum.

“With 18mn tonnes/year coming from our LNG project in Texas, Qatar will be doubling its LNG production capacity in the next few years,” Al-Kaabi stated. He said that these expansion projects are essential to meet the growing global demand for cleaner energy, driven by economic growth, rising populations, and higher living standards.

Al-Kaabi highlighted the significant demographic changes expected over the next three decades. “If you look at the expectation of having 1.5 to 2bn more people in the next 30 years or so, that means we will need more energy, more power, and even more petrochemicals for materials we use every day. We also need to be fair to that population and make sure they have access to reasonably priced power,” he said.

Addressing last year's media skepticism about Qatar’s expansion plans and concerns over potential difficulties in selling LNG, Al-Kaabi reported significant progress. “Today I can report that since then, we have secured 25mn tonnes of long-term LNG sales; and I can tell you also on this podium that we're signing more this year,” he affirmed.

Qatar, the world's largest LNG exporter, held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 3 last year for the North Field expansion project, which will raise the country's LNG production capacity from 77mn tonnes/year to 126mn tonnes/year by 2026.

In December last year, QatarEnergy announced the successful integration of all marketing and marketing-related activities formerly managed by QatarEnergy LNG.

In February this year, QatarEnergy unveiled the North Field West LNG expansion project, which aims to elevate Qatar's LNG production capacity to 142mn tonnes/year before the end of the decade.